Jeff Shelnutt Sermons

In this section Peter continues addressing the marriage relationship. He begins by giving an Old Testament example to follow by pointing towards Sarah's attitude toward Abraham. Then there is an understanding to embrace as we discover what it means for a husband to live an understanding manner with his wife. Finally, there is an honor the husband is called to continually bestow upon his wife. This mirrors the honor God bestows through Christ.

As Peter continues to deal with how the Christian should respond in different social situations, he now turns to the husband/wife relationship. Beginning with the wife, this passage gives us insight into God's view and ideal for submission in marriage. Not only will the godly character of a believing wife influence her unbelieving husband, Christian marriages act as both a stabilizing and subverting influence in every society. The principles outlined for a wife's behavior have application to us all.

You do not follow Jesus' example in order to become a Christian; you follow Jesus's example because you are a Christian. Specifically, there is a call for every Christian to follow the example of Jesus when treated unjustly. Jesus was silent before His accusers because He entrusted Himself and His circumstances to God. As we do the same, we will find the Lord lead us to the cross, through the grave, and into glory. By following the paradigm of Jesus' suffering, God will use the Christian for His redemptive purposes.

Relationships can be complicated. And this was especially true for early Christians. Slavery in the first century Roman Empire was a reality. Though faith in Jesus Christ sets a person free from the bondage of sin, it doesn't necessarily change his social condition. It was easy enough for a slave who became a Christian to relate to a good and gentle master. But what about when his boss was harsh and unreasonable? Peter answers this question by considering that which finds favor with God.

For the Christian there are two extremes in attempting to relate to society around him: either accommodation or isolation. The biblical path, however, is proclamation. A significant way the Christian proclaims the reality of God to a watching world is through submission to existing power structures. The irony is that only in submission does the Christian find true freedom.

The apostle Peter calls Christians to disarm hostility and influence others for God and for good. In order to do this, we must know 1) what to reject; 2) what to embrace; and 3) what to keep doing. When you are slandered as one who does evil, the response is not verbal, but behavioral. For some, observing consistent godly behavior will make the difference in their decision to choose spiritual life over spiritual death.

Every Christian has been called out of spiritual darkness into God's marvelous light. By pulling four specific phrases from the Old Testament, Peter describes what it means to be the people of God who proclaim His excellencies. From this passage we discover three things: who we are, what we do, and why we do it.

Reaching back to the imagery of the Old Testament, Peter points out that Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone of a new temple. Not only is God building a better house through the church, Christians are also a new and better priesthood. As those called to bring spiritual sacrifices of praise and service wherever God has placed them, gathered Christians are now the dwelling place of God's presence. Like Israel of old, the Lord will use the corporate witness of the worshiping church to reveal Himself.

There are no shortcuts to spiritual growth. We must be on guard against certain behaviors. We must also long for spiritual nourishment. This passage tells us where to find that nourishment. We also discover why tasting the kindness of the Lord is an ongoing experience for the growing Christian.

Sincere and fervent love among Christians is not optional. In fact, the love followers of Jesus show for each other is a primary means that God uses to disarm the hostility of a watching world. In this text we discover the glory, the way, the source, the power, and the potential for loving one another well.